Ask the Doctor
Do you have a question you’ve been meaning to ask your doctor? Email it to us at
pause@acog.org.
Q: I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with both of my children. Will I develop diabetes in middle-age?
A: Up to one half of women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy will develop type 2 diabetes later in life. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women with gestational diabetes be rescreened for diabetes 6–12 weeks after delivery. Women with normal results should be rescreened at least once every three years, and those who are diabetic should be put on a management plan. Be sure to tell your
doctor and other health care providers that you have had gestational diabetes. There are other factors that can increase a woman’s chances of developing type 2 diabetes including being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, personal or family history of heart disease, or a family
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history of diabetes. Even though you had
gestational diabetes, making healthy lifestyle choices can help lower your risk of developing diabetes later in life. Try to reach and maintain a healthy weight, eat a diet of healthy and low-fat foods, and get regular exercise. For more information on diabetes, visit
www.diabetes.org.
Q: I’m taking an antidepressant for my hot flashes. Will they get worse when I go off the antidepressant?
A: Certain types of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—including Prozac®, Paxil®, Zoloft®, and Effexor® (a combination antidepressant that contains an SSRI)—may reduce the severity of hot flashes in some women. SSRIs affect your brain’s use of a neurotransmitter chemical called serotonin, which is believed to play a role in regulating body heat. Although hormone
therapy is the most effective treatment for
hot flashes, SSRIs are sometimes used as an alternative for women who can’t tolerate or who don’t want to take hormones. SSRIs are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in reducing hot flashes. Of course, as with any medication, there are possible side effects with antidepressants to consider. Some women’s hot flashes have no response at all to SSRIs. It’s possible that your hot flashes will get worse when you stop taking your antidepressant, but it’s not certain. As with any therapy, you will need to discuss with your physician how to wean yourself off once you decide to discontinue it. If you have questions about the effects of any medicine you are taking, you should talk to your doctor.
Q: Is drinking soft drinks bad for my bones?
A: It may be, depending on how much you drink and your overall health and diet. According to the
National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), there is some concern that soft drinks that contain phosphoric acid or caffeine, or both, may harm bone health. Some studies have suggested getting too much phosphate can reduce the amount of calcium that the body absorbs. Caffeine, in high amounts, can cause bone loss, according to NOF, because it interferes with calcium absorption. NOF recommends that women with osteoporosis drink no more than five soft drinks a week. If you like caffeinated
coffee, add calcium-rich milk to it. As with most things, moderation is the best strategy. If you have a poor diet, don’t exercise, and drink mostly coffee and/or caffeinated soft drinks containing phosphoric acid, then you likely are not building or maintaining your bone health. Make sure that you are getting the recommended amount of daily calcium through a healthy diet—and calcium supplements, if necessary.
Peter Dazeley/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images
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